What is Religion? Teaching Theories about Religion
“Religion.” As familiar as the word seems, it is a challenge to define. This module introduces prominent scholars from the past century whose definitions of “religion” continue to shape religious studies scholarship to this today.
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- Religious Literacy
- Educator
Benjamin P. Marcus is a fellow and former Religious Literacy Specialist with the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute, where he examines the intersection of education, religious literacy and identity formation in the United States. He has developed religious literacy programs for public schools, universities, U.S. government organizations, and private foundations in the U.S. and abroad.
Andrew Henry is scholar of religious studies. His research focuses on the religions of the late ancient Mediterranean world, particularly on the material culture of early Christianity. Andrew also has interests in the intersection of social media technology and religious studies pedagogy and is the founder of the educational YouTube channel Religion for Breakfast.
- Identify prominent religious scholars and their proposed definitions of religion.
- Contrast definitions of religion
- “What is Religion?” by Andrew Henry, Religion for Breakfast
- How has your understanding of the definition of religion changed after completing this module?
- Why is it important for students to recognize different definitions of religion?
